Meaning:

“杂草” means “weed,” and “女” means “woman.” The term, made popular by Taiwanese TV drama “Meteor Garden” (2001), was used by female lead Shancai (Barbie Hsu) in reference to herself. Shancai is a poor teenage girl, who, at the insistence of her parents, goes to a university for rich people. The university is dominated by four rich and handsome but arrogant students collectively known as “F4,” short for “Flower 4.” With a strong will and compassion for the less fortunate, Shancai is always ready to help those bullied and is pitted against F4. Therefore, this term refers to a girl born into a lower-class family, who, with a strong will, does not succumb to her fate.

Example:

A: 据说小丽在和公司老板的儿子谈恋爱。

Jùshuō xiǎolì zài hé gōngsī lǎobǎn de érzi tán liàn’ài。

They say Xiaoli is dating the son of our company’s big boss.

B: 一点都不奇怪。听说他向来喜欢杂草女。

Yīdiǎn dōu bù qíguài。Tīngshuō tā xiànglái xǐhuān zácǎonǚ。

I’m not surprised. The guy seems to like strong-willed women from lower-class families.